Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers Week 1 gambling odds & handicapping

Seahawks Begin Super Bowl Quest

For Seattle Seahawks fans the wait has been excruciating – but fear not the 2013 NFL season kicks off Sunday, on the road, playing in the dreaded 1 PM Eastern Time slot. As Hawks fans know – the 10 AM starting time for this team is a bit of a nightmare and road wins have been very difficult to come by the last few seasons.

Seattle’s competition Sunday is far better than advertised. The Panthers went 7-9 last year with seven of their nine losses coming by six or less points. A mistake or two in each game cost them last year and hopes in Carolina are that karma catches up with them and swings the breaks in their favor a little bit.

Returning from injury for Carolina is standout linebacker John Beason who will make a difference on this team and by all accounts the Panthers draft was very good – a kid by the name of Star Lotulelei should really help a defensive unit that was quietly top 10 in the NFL last year without arguably their best player.

Russ and the Hawks return to Carolina seeking another win. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Carolina’s offense is no slouch either – Cam Newton is still one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the NFL, Steve Smith is still an elite playmaker and DeAngelo Williams, although he has been disappointing the last couple of years, is still a dangerous guy each and every time he touches the ball.

The Seahawks too are solid offensively. Percy Harvin was supposed to take some of the pressure off Marshawn Lynch but injury will keep him out most of the season.

The onus is on Marshawn again and it appears as though he embraces and relishes his role. Russell Wilson made huge strides last season but won’t catch anyone off guard this upcoming season. As we saw last year, the offense will just have to be good — not great — as the defense will do more than its share week-in and week-out.

Seattle’s defense appears poised to be one of the best units in the game again and they get a test right off the bat going against Cam Newton and the boys.

Call it a good dry run for what they will see in Colin Kaepernick two times this season. Cliff Avril won’t play and Chris Clemons is still in recovery mode off his ACL surgery.

But is there is a better secondary? It is hard to imagine. Sunday’s game should be a defensive struggle – exactly the type of game the Seattle’s defense is made for.

Dave’s Free Wont Cost You Anything Betting Prediction

• Over is 6-2 in SEA last 8 games overall.
• Over is 6-2 in SEA last 8 vs. NFC.
• Over is 6-2 in CAR last 8 games overall.

Simply put, the start time of this game is Seattle’s biggest enemy – seriously! And the fact that this game is on the road throws up a few red flags. In the last three seasons the Seahawks are 0-3 in road openers, they’re 8-16 overall on the road and they’re 1-4 in games that kick off at 10 AM PT.

The Hawks were terrific last year except when they hit the road – 3-5 away from home and 0-2 in games that kicked off at 10 AM.

It is hard to back a Seattle team that can’t win in the Eastern time zone. Fear not Seahawks fans, they have to lose some time this year and the season opener against an underrated Carolina team is one of those times.

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Dave B is from Beautiful BC. A Fantasy Football writer for 10+ years. A gambler, and a sucker for an early Vegas line. Loves to bet on the NHL, and NFL. A couch potato wannabe, BC Lions, Canucks, & Seahawks fan. Hope’s for world peace + global relaxation.Email: DaveB@NWSportsBeat.comDave B On TwitterLike Something I wrote? Hate it? Hit me back today I want to hear from you!